Vegetable cutter



Feb. 1, 1938. F. w. NANKIVELL VEGETABLE CUTTER Filed April 3, 1936 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to the reduction of vegetables, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved string bean 1 slicer.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing the device associated with a receptacle for receiving the sliced beans;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view; and

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating an extension shaft applied to the cutter for connection with an independent source of power.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a metal plate ID having its circumferential edge enclosed within a resilient bead l2, which bead is arranged to rest upon the wall of a receptacle M for receiving the sliced beans. An electric motor I6 is mounted upon the plate l0 and is connected with a rotary cutter l8 through the medium of a shaft 20. The cutter l8 comprises a metallic plate cut through at diametrically opposed areas and the material bent out of its normal plane to provide lips 22 to which cutting blades 24 are connected by screws 26.

I provide the plate I!) with an inlet opening 28 for the string beans to be cut. The plate is deformed to provide a raised guide 30 for the string beans, which guide is angularly arranged with respect to the plate to deliver the string beans in angular relation with the cutter I8.

The blades 24 terminate in close relation with the plate [0 and sever the string beans diagonally. The motor l6 rotates the cutter l8 rapid ly, and the blades 24 tend to pull the bean inwardly during the cutting action so that the bean Will be properly positioned for the succeeding blade. When once the bean has been pushed into cutting relation with the cutter l8 through the opening 28, the operation is entirely automatic. The plate i0 is so designed as to adapt the cutter to various types of receptacles. When associated with a receptacle according to Fig. 2, the cutter is effectively connected with the receptacle and is easily balanced.

Referring to Fig. 3, the motor 16 includes a housing made up of sections 32 and 34 which have interfitting relation at 36. These sections are firmly secured together by bolts 38, each having one end riveted at Ml to the plate 10. Thus, the bolts 38 tie the sections 32 and 34 together and connect the motor with the plate ill.

The field 42 is mounted upon the bolts 38 and is maintained in fixed relation therewith because of sleeves 44 mounted upon the bolts. The armature 46 is connected with the shaft 20 extending through a bearing 48 fixedly connected with the section 34. This bearing extends through an opening in the plate l0, and constitutes an abutment for the cutter I8. I connect a boss 50 with the cutter l8, which boss is fixedly connected with the shaft 20 by means of a set screw 52 having its end bearing against the flat- 10 tened side 54 of the shaft. The opposite end of the shaft 20 is supported by a bearing 56 carried by the section 32.

A handle 58 may be connected with the motor I6 which handle is arranged in operative relation 5 with a switch Gil for controlling the circuit for the motor.

In Fig. 5, I illustrate a slightly different construction, one in which the shaft 62 is extended at 20 Y 64 and provided with a socket 66 for .the reception of the motor shaft 68. In this way, the shaft 62 may be connected with an independent source of power.

A set screw 10 may be associated with the socket 66 for connecting the socket with the shaft 25 68. The plate 12 which corresponds to the plate l0 includes a fixedly connected boss 14 constituting a bearing for the shaft 62. This shaft is provided with a collar 16 which bears against one end of the boss 14, which boss is extended at 18 30 to constitute an abutment for the boss carried by the cutter 82. When the cutter 82 is connected with the shaft 62 and the set screw 84 tightened, all the parts are effectively connected together. 35

The lips 22 lie within the contour of the plate l8 so that its peripheral margin is unbroken, thereby lending strength to the plate.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by 40 applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

A string bean cutter comprising a plate in the nature of a removable cover for a receptacle, said plate being provided with a load carrying bead of resilient material arranged for engaging the wall of the receptacle for supporting the plate,

a rotatable cutter carried by said plate in slightly spaced relation with its bottom side, means for 59 rotating the cutter, and means carried by said plate for guiding beans into cutting relation with said cutter, said means being accessible from the side of the plate opposite the rotatable cutter.

FREDERICK W. NANKIVELL. 

